A corpora



l W. LAWRENCE. MEANS FOR MOUNTING MACHINE GUNS. APPLICATION F1150 MAY 2. 1911. nniwzn Aus. 2a, 1919. 1,322,457.

Patented NOV. 18, 1919.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Lawrence Bv mf Mm.

ATTORNEY W. LAWRENCE.

MEANS FOR MOUNTING MACHINE GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MM 2. 1917. RENEwED Aue. 23, |919.

1,322,457. v Patented No?. 18, 1919.,l

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"INH l uliumllllk ATTORNEY .W. LAWRENCE.

MEANS FOR MOUNTING MACHINE GUNS. A

APPLlc/Tlou FILED MAY 2. 19u. nENEwED AUG. 23. |919.

1,322,457. Patented N0v18,191'9.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 WZZ'se Lawrence 1 9 M I ATTORNEY l invirnn STATES rATnNT onnicn WILLSE LAWRENCE, ori Sritnvcrmrfn MKASsAcHpUSETTS; ASSIGNOR To UNITED STATES MANUFAcalnameceiapaiw,l or SOUTH DEERFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS Foie MOUNTING 'MACHINE-GUNS.

' specificati-ond Letters Patenti VP-.ageniged NOV.f18,

Application med May 2,1917, Serin no.v iccicia "Renewea Augastze, 1919. serial No. 319,428.

To alt 'wlw/n it may concern.'

Be it known that 1, VILLSE LAWRENCE, 'a citizen of the United States, resid-ingat Springfield, in'- the county Yofv Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented nen7 and useful Improvements in Means for Mounting Machi-nceGu/ns, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to mean mounting machinel 'guns of the typ ployed in trench warfare, and one 0b s for e ern;- Ject is tion of the muzzle'when desired.`

A further object is` to provide ,means whereby the vdevices controlling the nation Or angle ofl the gun maybe so inclioperated that the change of inclination may be eliected gradually, or 'may be effected im?- mediately and in one operation when the gun is to be moved through ay considerable angle at a given time.

AV micrometer adjustment'v is provided for securing gradual and accurate movementjof the `gun reference to the supporting jdevice.

A further object is to,` provide mean with able ,for mounting any one' ofthe machine guns now in use by the U.' S'. Army, jtlrese guns including the Lewis gun, lthe Maxim gun, the Maxim-Vickers gun,the 'Colt 'un andthe sci-called UqS. B. gun.

only change necessaryy 'in mounting any of the guns indicated is in applyingy Suitable attaching or securing devices for holding the gun infpo'sition upon the gun base yof Y the standard type which am now constructing.

V-ith the foregoing and; other -objects iu view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter claimed described v and In'the accompanying `c'lrawings":'- Y. Figure 1 1s a view -of Athe vdevice in side elevation. p p. Fig. 2 shows the general construct front elevation:

i011Y in Fig. 3 isa top plan view. F ig. t is a vsection on the line 1 1 of Fig; K F iig. 5 is 'ta-ken on the line 5 5' of Fig. l. Figi 6, i's'adetail view in perspective of a bracket located between Ythe gun 'base proper 'and certain-of the vertical supports. ig. 7 isa section on line 7 7 of F ig.y 1. Figs. 8 toV 1 1 are details showing certain .seeiiringfdevices bymeans 4lof which the guns e'f various "types`A in inse-'by the U. S. Army iii'ay' be L'ccnnect-ed with the Agun base. f' SEQ-'is sectien on lfine 12g512- `of Fig. 1. n f Y v Fig. 13 is taken on line 13-13 of F ig. 5. In my application for patent filed April 12', 1916, Serial No. 90,689, I have described means' for mounting a machine gun de-L signed ytov permit lof the manipulation 'of a gun from a point vlbelow the gun base, in order 'that "the weapon be -mountediu a trench vor-the like.v In the present application I provide means for manipulating the gun in all directions necessary, peri-Hitting it to be rota-ted entirely around the lower portion -or stationary base, and ypern'iitt-iug any elevation of the muzzle andconversely any `reasonable elevation of the breech portion when the muzzle is toV be pointed vin a downward direction.l Vertical adjustment 'of' the gun base is secu-red through means similar to those describedY in my pending application.V Y Y y The Stationary base includes an annular member 1'0V supported' by suitable legs con'- s'tituting atri-pod, lthis base serving'to 4carry a turnetable 15 and having on its outer'edge teeth 16 -adaptedto co'o'perate with a worm 17 in, Order-,to provide for the very accurate adjustment of the turn-table with reference to the base. l/Vorm 17 is mounted on a shaft 18` adapted to be operated by a hand wheel 19,. said shaft 18 'being Lsupported by a braclietQO pivoted at21 and adapted to be swung into I and rout of engagementwith Ythe teeth above mentioned. `The position of the bracket is 'controlled by set screw 22 engaging pin'f 23,' pivoted at 21.

Mounted transversely of the base and turn-'table is an angle bar 25 and positioned at pointsy adjacent to the ends of said bar are upwardly extending members or lugs 26 apertured'V and adapted for, the accommodation of pins 27 constituting trunnions for supporting the vertical members or uprights 28 and 29 which support the gun base 8O at the elevation desired. Members 28 and 29 comprise angle bars positioned as indicated, and connected with the tops of these bars by means of pivots 81 are a plurality of arms 32 deflected at portions 38 and threaded for a considerable distance adjacent to their lower ends. The threaded portions pass through sleeves 35 provided with beveled gears 36 engaging beveled pinions 37 carried by a shaft 38 extending transversely and provided in turn with a beveled pinion 89 engaging beveled gear 40. The gear wheel last-named is carried by the short shaft 41 operated by means of hand wheel 42, said shaft having a bearing 48 in an arm 45 extending rearwardly from the rotatable member carried by the base. This construction provides for the tilting of the vertical members 28 and 29 and consequently for the elevation of the breech or muzzle. when aiming the gun in a desired direction. Said members 28 and 29 are connected at their lower ends with angular members 28 and 29 on which the trunnions are directly mounted.

The gun base includesa member having a substantially plane upper surface and designated 80, this member having downwardly extending flanged portions at each side, shown at 49, and reinforcing ribs or the like 50 and 51. Flanged members 49 are provided with slotsl 52 permitting of the adjustment of the gun base in Va vertical plane by means of threaided memberr 54 constituting a handle and having threaded connection with the flanged portions of a bracket 55 mounted between the uprights 28 and 29. The bracket last referred to is shown in detail in Fig. 6 and comprises side members 59 and 60 spaced apart and Connected at their front ends by a transverse member 61. The vertically disposed flange portions 49 of the gun base are positioned between the side members of the .bracket mentioned and a pin 62 passes transversely through the bracket and through members 49 of the base for the purpose of pivoting the latter to the bracket.

One side of the bracket is providedwith an offset member 64. having anpapertured socket member 65 mounted thereon, 'said socket member receiving the threads of a screw 66 extending parallelly `with reference to the vertical bars 28 and 29 and controlled by means of gear 67 at the lower end, said gear meshing with a beveled pinion 68 adapted to be operated by means of a handle constituting a crank arm 69. rI`his construction provides for the movement of the gun base verticallywithin the supporting frame comprising members 28 and 29. The screw 66 is supported at its upper end in a bracket or the like, 71.

In order to provide for guiding the gun base in its vertical movement I provide a shown in Fig. 4. One of these plates is carried on outwardly extending'member 64 and at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the gun base, and the other of said plates is carried upon a correspondingly formed member 76 on Vthe opposite side of the bracket. Member 64 is provided with a latch or the like 78 pivoted at 79 and having an edge 80 adapted to cooperate with the threads of screw 66, said latch being retained in position by means of a detachable pin or the likel 81 and being thrown into disengaging position by'means of a projecting member 82. The latchis in engagementwith the threads of the screw during' the gradual elevation or the gradual downward movement of the gun base, but when a more rapid movement or adjustment is desired the latch may be thrown out of engagement with the screw.

A similar` gradual adjustment is effected by the operation of member 19 controlling the rotation of the turn-table, this being in fact a micrometer adjustment, but when it is desired to turn the gun through a considerable angle the bracket supporting the worm is swung outwardly in order that said worm may be disengaged from the teeth, as already indicated. It should be added that the rotary member is held in proper position with reference toY the stationary portion by means of rollers 8 carried by do\vn\.v:u'dly extending members or arms 9 secured to said rotary member.

A. reel 84`is mounted on arm 85 extcnding at an angle with a platey member 86 secured by means of thumb screws 87 to angl e bar 29'. vThis reel may therefore be detached when desired. V

. The front portion of the gun base 80 is provided with an aperture88 which may be engaged'by fcertainof the securing devices carried by lgiven types of guns. This gun base is also provided with apertures 9() designed for similar purposes. In F 8 to 11, inclusive, I have shown a. plurality of yoke members for mounting different types of guns, one of these members being provided with a hinged clamp 92 connected with a lower clamping member 98 formed on portion 94 which is suitably apertured for receivingl a pin or pins adapted to be passed through apertures 95 formed in `ears 96 upstanding from the sides of the base. Another form of securing member comprises an upper clamping device 97 pro-v vided with a complementary clamping lOO member 98 carried by lower portion 99 suitably apertured and adapted to been-V gaged by a pin lor pins -as iin the .previous linstance. A yoke member 100 pivoted at 101 passes around the barrel of the gun and aids in retaining the gun. in position.

In connection with the foregoing I Aprovide a two-part periscope for the'lpurpose of robserving the sights of the gun from la point below the gun base. A lower periscope member includes va casing 104: with a mirror 105 therein, sa-i'd easing being mounted' upon an .arm 106 and secured to said arm by means vof suitable devices This arm has adjustable connection with an arm 108y rigidly-connected with` the vertical supporting frame as shown at 109; Th-e adjustable connection gof. any suitable character is designated 110. The upper periscope member includes a casing 111 having a mirror 112 mounted therein,said'casing being adj ust able vertically witlrinsidem embers 114 mounted on a channel member 115 coperating with a' member having al corresponding cross section designated 116, said member being secured to the base by means olf bolts or rivets 117. Vertical slots 1'18 pcr mit of the raising and lowering of casing 111 and thumb screws 1119 serve to secure the casing in its adjusted position. .Additional thumb screws 120 provide for 'engagement lbetween the adjustable channel member 115 and the complementary member 116 secured to the gun base. A trigger pull is designated 124 vand is pivoted at 125.v Additional securing means for the gun areshown at 126 this device or devices being aperturedfor` thev purpose ofreceiving detachable pins or the like. A slot' 128 sliown in Fig. 3 is` provided for the accommodation of the triggenpull 124.

The cartridge reel 84 carried by arm 85 may be secured to either the right or left side of the machine and to either upright 28 or 29, being detachable by means of thumb screws 87. The entire mechanism .may readily be prepared for removal from one place to another in view of the manner of `assembling the elements thereof. rIhe base 10 is providedr with integrally formed socket members 5 which accommodate the detachable legs 6 for supporting thc dcvice. Trunnions 27 are held in position by detachable pins 27 structure to be removed from the base, and the housing for shaft 38 and all of the gearing directly connected therewith may be detached from the base at 7 and 7. The journal boxes there shown have hinged covers secured by thumb screws 7. In this operation, arms 32 carrying sleeves 85 and gears 36 are folded against uprights 28 and 29. The sections of the periscope` are removable by the operator to enable him to have freedom of action in high angle firing.

permitting the super supporting member, a rotatable member car.-`

ried thereby, a frame having .pivotaliconnee tion with the rotating member, a gun base. having pivotal connection with the frame, and means for adjusting said gun-base vertically and at an vangle with the frame.

2. In a device vof fthe class described, a supporting device, a rotating :member carried thereby, a frame having pivotalconnection with the rotating member, .a "bracket mounted for vertical adjustment with referi ence to the frame, and a gun'basc mounted for angular adjustment in a vertical plane with reference to saidv bracket. j

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting device, la rotating member mounted thereon, a frame comprising a plurality ofspaced bars, said frame having pivotal connection with the rotating member, means for adjusting the angular relation of the frame to the rotating member, a gun base extending between the spaced members of the frame, a guiding and supporti-ng device mountedbetween said spaced members and means for adjustably connecting .the device last-named with the gun base. f Y

4. In a device l'of the class described, a supporting device, a. rotating member' mounted thereon, a series of teeth extending around the circumference of the supporting member, a threaded member coperating with said teeth, a pivoted bracket carrying the threaded member, and adapted to turn the latter into and out of engagement with the teeth, a frame having pivotal connection with the rotating member, adjusting means for controlling the angular position of the frame, a gun base extending 'through the frame and means for adjustingthe angular position of the gun base with reference to the frame.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting device, a rotating member mounted thereon, a supporting frame c0m prising a plurality of angle bars and a transverse member, said frame having pivotal connection with the rotating member, a gun base mounted transversely of the frame, a device having pivotal connection with the gun base and means for guiding said device along the flanges of the angle bars..-

6. In a device of the class described, a supporting device, a rotating member carried thereby, a frame pivotally mounted on the rotating member, said frame including a plurality of spaced angle bars, the outer angles constituting the front portion of the frame, a gun base, and a vertically movable guiding device positioned between the angle bars and having adjustable connection with the gun base permitting the inclination thereof in a vertical plane, said guiding means carrying devices engaging adjacent flanges of the respective angle bars.

7. In a device of the class described, a pivotally mounted frame, means for supporting and rotating said rame, a guiding device operating within the frame, a gun base including a plurality of flanged members pro.- vided with a curved slot, means for pivoting the gun base to said guiding device, means passing through said slot Jfor adjusting the gun base with reference to the guiding device, and means for controlling the vertical elevation of the guiding device with reference to said frame.

8. In a device of the class described, a pivotally mounted iframe, means for supporting the latter, means for controlling the angular position of the frame, a gun base movable vertically with reference to the frame and movable at an angle with reference thereto, a two-part periscope, one section thereof having connection with the gun base and the other section with the lower portion of the frame.

9. In a device of the class described, a pivotally mounted frame, means for rotating said frame on a vertical axis, means controlling the inclination of the frame, a gun base, guiding means movable vertically within the frame, means for controlling said vertical movement, a gun base having pivotal and adjustable connection with the guiding means, and a two-part periscope, one section of which has adjustable connection with the gun base, the other section having adjustable connection with the lower portion of the frame.

l0. In a device of the class described, a pivotally moiuited frame, means for rotating said frame with reference to its vertical axis, a gun base mounted for vertical movement with reference to the frame and for movement angularly in a vertical glane, securing means carried by the gun ase, and clamping devices for retaining said gun on the base and adapted for connection with said securing means. Y

l1. In a device of the class described, a supporting device, a rotating member carried thereby, a frame having pivotal connection with the rotating member, detachable and adjustable means for controlling the positionof the pivoted frame, a bracket mounted for vertical adjustment with reference to the frame, and a gun base mounted for angular adjustment in a vertical plane with reference to said bracket.

l2. In a device of the class described, a supporting device, a rotating member carried thereby, a frame having pivotal connection with the rotating .member, means for controlling the position of the pivoted frame and including a threaded member and a removably mounted transverse shaft and gearing for operating the threaded member, a bracket mounted' for vertical adjustment with reference to the frame, and agun base mounted for angular adjustment in a vertical plane with reference to` said bracket.

In testimony whereof I aX my signature.

WILLSE LAWRENCE. 

